02.28.07

Where is Jason Now? Cheers and Safe Travels to Jason Newquist!

Posted in Blogroll at 11:03 pm

On September 18, 2006, my friend and co-worker, Jason Newquist, quit his job. Jason decided that he had had enough of corporate America, and wanted to embark on an adventurous journey around the world.

Newquist, or “The Nuke”, had been living dirt cheap in his cousin’s farmhouse outside of Austin, stockpiling cash for an entire year. He survived without running hot water and much human contact while at home. Showers were taken at work and at places such as my apartment. Bringing home girls would be an adventure as he drove towards ‘haunted’ country. Tractors and trucks were more common than Internet. When he wasn’t bathing out of a metal pot or getting stuck in the mud, Jason was a great worker… but his heart just wasn’t in it.

After one final farmhouse party in the autumn, Jason finally embarked towards Europe over Christmas break. His travels are being documented at www.whereisjasonnow.com, which I begged him to create so that we could keep up. You have to love Jason’s spirit and attitude in these posts. Without a doubt, my favorite story thus far is National Lampoon’s Portuguese Vacation, in which Nuke is constantly humiliated at every turn. His rental car fiasco is hilarious!

Despite my belief that Jason probably planned on bolting all along, he is a totally great guy and standout character. I am truly jealous of what he’s done — not because he’s traveling the world, but because he is chasing his dream. I know that Jason will land on his feet wherever he ends up (our guess is Australia), because people love him. One regret is that I didn’t hang out with him more.

Well, Nuke, cheers to you! The warm staff here at mikeroberto.com wishes you safe travels, and if you end up in Asia, jump over the pond and come visit me in LA!
-Berto

PS: Don’t forget that beer you shotgunned in the picture below… you look AWFUL!